Sustainable Library Development TRAINING PACKAGE Office of Overseas Programming & Training Support (OPATS) FEBRUARY 2013 [ DRAFT FOR PILOT ] Acknowledgements The Sustainable Library Development Training Package is designed to provide guidance to Peace Corps Volunteers engaged in library projects. The training package was developed and written by Peace Corps/Washington librarians Marcy Carrel and Gail Wadsworth in the Information Collection and Exchange (ICE) unit in the Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS). Field reviews and input came from a working group that included field staff from the Africa; Europe, Mediterranean and Asia; and Inter-America and Pacific regions and headquarters staff. Special thanks to PC/Albania, PC/Lesotho, PC/Morocco, PC/Paraguay, PC/Philippines, and PC/South Africa for their contributions during the field review phase. Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Focus In/Train Up and Sustainable Library Development ........................................................................ 1 Background on Library Projects in the Peace Corps ................................................................................. 1 Rationale for the Sustainable Library Development Training Package ..................................................... 2 How to use this Training Package ................................................................................................................. 2 Prerequisites ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Sequencing ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Trainer Preparation ................................................................................................................................... 4 Session Plans and Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................... 5 Terminal Learning Objective ..................................................................................................................... 5 Session: Peace Corps Resources for Library Projects (PST) ...................................................................... 5 Session: Introduction to Sustainable Library Development ..................................................................... 6 Session: Information Resources for Library Projects (Optional) ............................................................... 6 Session: Steps for Setting up a Library ...................................................................................................... 6 Session: Organization and Classification ................................................................................................... 6 Session: Borrowing and Lending ............................................................................................................... 6 Session: Supplementary Services .............................................................................................................. 6 Session: Library Field Trip (Optional) ........................................................................................................ 7 Session: Sustainable Library Development for the Education Sector ....................................................... 7 Additional Resources to Enhance the Sustainable Library Development Training Package ........................ 7 Other Resources ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Comments or Questions? ............................................................................................................................. 9 Sustainable Library Development Training Package February 2013 Introduction Focus In/Train Up and Sustainable Library Development The Sustainable Library Development Training Package supports Peace Corps’ Focus In/Train Up strategy, which was implemented following the 2010 Comprehensive Agency Assessment. Sustainable Library Development is a technical training package in Peace Corps programming within the Education sector. The training package addresses the Volunteer competency, “Facilitate improved teaching and learning skills and practices.” The purpose of the Sustainable Library Development Training Package is to support and provide guidance to Peace Corps Volunteers engaged in library projects as both primary work assignments and secondary project activities. The training package is intended to strengthen the work of Volunteers in partnership with their communities and to help Peace Corps better demonstrate its impact. Background on Library Projects in the Peace Corps Peace Corps Volunteers have been involved in library development throughout most of the 50-year history of the agency. In the early days, Peace Corps actively recruited professional librarians for library assignments worldwide. Although Peace Corps no longer actively recruits librarians, we know that Volunteers are engaged in library projects of all types. Anecdotally, we regularly read or hear about book drives, library infrastructure, and other library projects that Volunteers undertake with partners in their communities. According to the 2011 Annual Volunteer Survey, 12 percent of Volunteers indicate they are engaged in library projects as part of their primary work assignments and 18 percent of Volunteers are engaged in library projects as secondary activities. In the annual status reports (SRs), posts report on the number of Volunteers who participate in specific sector projects and the scope and reach of their activities. Unfortunately, library projects have not been formally tracked and reporting on library projects has not been required. However, many posts include discussions of library projects in their sector highlights. For example, for fiscal year 2011, Volunteer library and literacy-related activities were included in discussions for 33 posts, including 13 posts in the Africa region, eight in the Europe, Mediterranean, and Asia (EMA) region, and 12 in the Inter-America and the Pacific (IAP) region. These library activities include leading book drives, renovating community library spaces, developing school libraries, facilitating library training, and various other library activities in the education, youth, health, and business sectors. Volunteer library activities, particularly for secondary project activities, are also visible through funding requests. Volunteers often seek additional funding for library projects through the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) or through the Small Project Assistance (SPA) program of USAID. For example, in FY11, over 70 book and library-related projects were undertaken or completed with funding through PCPP. Current PCPP projects are listed on the public website and the library project summaries are a visible testament to the interest in library-related activities. Peace Corps Page 1 Sustainable Library Development Training Package February 2013 In addition, Peace Corps Response filled nine positions in FY11 and eight positions in FY12 for short-term Volunteer assignments related to supporting libraries or library development in host countries. Clearly, there is continued and demonstrated interest in libraries from Peace Corps Volunteers and host countries. This training package is intended to support the work of Volunteers and communities in the development of sustainable libraries and to promote best practices in sustainable library development. Rationale for the Sustainable Library Development Training Package The UNESCO Public Library Manifesto proclaims a belief in the value of the public library: “The public library, the local gateway to knowledge, provides a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development of the individual and social groups. …. UNESCO therefore encourages national and local governments to support and actively engage in the development of public libraries.” (http://www.unesco.org/webworld/libraries/manifestos/libraman.html) International support for libraries is also extended through the UNESCO/IFLA Manifesto for School Libraries: “The school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning successfully in today’s information and knowledge-based society. The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens….The school library offers learning services, books and resources that enable all members of the school community to become critical thinkers and effective users of information in all formats and media. School libraries link to the wider library and information network in accord with the principles in the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto.” (http://www.unesco.org/webworld/libraries/manifestos/school_manifesto.html) While many Peace Corps Volunteers engage in library projects, most are not well-trained in library and information science, nor are they experienced in sustainable library development. This training package is intended to provide Volunteers with standardized training and guidance for library activities and recommendations for other appropriate resources to support library